AZULIK Tulum

Set amid a thick mangrove abutting a sandy cove, the adults-only Azulik is undeniably one of the most unique hotels in Riviera Maya. The experience it offers could be described as rustic-luxe with a spiritual touch, and nature takes center stage here. The hotel’s buildings -- including all 48 rooms -- are constructed from natural materials found on the beach and surrounding forest, including palm fronds, bamboo, and wood. The architectural style is traditional Mayan throughout. Rooms (known as villas here) are housed in elevated palapa-style huts built on stilts and featuring porch rails made from gnarly and carved wood. Palm fronds provide shade over porches and common areas, while trees weave in and out of buildings. Restaurants and bars have lounges housed in round platforms high above the canopy, allowing for stunning Caribbean Sea views -- and highly Instagrammable shots.

This is a truly unplugged property. Water is sourced from the on-site cenote through small canals made of concrete and covered in mosaic tiles, and generators provide the little electricity found here. Sockets are available in rooms for charging mobile devices, but nighttime lighting depends on candles, lending the property a romantic, intimate vibe. A winding, elevated bridge slashes through the jungle, offering guests the opportunity to not just view nature but to walk into its heart.

Azulik is about a 10-minute drive south of downtown Tulum, and is within a five- or 10-minute walk of shops and restaurants. The road, however, is narrow, with limited room for cars to maneuver around pedestrians, so some areas of the road do not favor pedestrian traffic. Azulik rents bikes, and bike paths are built into stretches of the main road, making biking potentially safer than walking. Tulum's Mayan ruin site, which has a beautiful beach below, is less than a 10-minute drive north of the resort. Cancun International Airport is about a 90-minute drive away.

Azulik Tulum features 48 stand-alone villas, all built on stilts and with natural local materials in the traditional Mayan style. As with common spaces, rooms are designed to be open to nature and feature thatch roofs and huge windows covered only with slats of wood tied together by cording. Polished wooden floors and curvy furniture made of natural fibers make for rustic-chic spaces, while open bathrooms integrated in the rooms add a romantic touch. Round king beds are placed on wooden platforms and covered with mosquito nets, and ceiling fans keep the air moving.

Keeping with the hotel’s unplugged policy, there is no electric lighting, and only one power socket is available in rooms. At night, the staff lights dozens of candles in each room, adding to the intimate vibe. While this is a unique part of the experience, it also means that there is no air-conditioning (only one villa has it), which may not be ideal in the warmest months.

All villas have spacious decks with either lounges, Bali beds, or hanging nets with pillows, as well as hot tubs for two or small plunge pools. Views are a highlight here: most units offer gorgeous ocean views, while others look out over the mangrove. Living rooms are available in some units and feature built-in furniture with plush pillows in white hues, along with tables and seating low to the ground. All units feature safes, but there are no TV, internet, or minibars available. Higher-tier villas have swings overlooking the ocean, and a few have private access via steps to the beach.

Open-plan bathrooms have handcrafted soaking tubs covered in mosaic tiles in the traditional Mayan style. Coconut shells are provided to scoop up rinsing water that flows from the stone canals built in the room sourcing water directly from the on-site cenote. Only a handful of units have showers. Toilets are partitioned off from the rest of the villa by bamboo enclosures that provide only basic privacy, making these units most suitable for couples and solo travelers.

Azulik Tulum is set directly overlooking a beautiful sandy cove with a clothing-optional policy. Wooden loungers with thick padding are placed under straw umbrellas, but seaweed can sometimes be an issue (common in the region). The hotel has a strong focus on wellness and its on-site spa goes beyond basic skin care and massages. For an extra fee, guests can take part in Mayan healing rituals such as temazcal, as well as in biomagnetism, aromatherapy, and cleansing sessions. Daily on-site yoga classes are offered for a fee, and private instruction can be arranged for an extra charge.

Additionally, the hotel is home to a gorgeous museum made of bamboo, wood, and concrete. Sfer Ik, as it is known, hosts international artists throughout the year, including Guillaume Leblon, Katinka Bock, Ernesto Neto, Bianca Bondi, and Margo Trushina.

Free Wi-Fi is available in common areas but not in rooms. Although some villas feature private plunge pools and/or outdoor hot tubs for at least two guests, Azulik lacks a common pool.

The resort features three restaurants, all visually stunning and expensive. Cenote is the most casual of all and it’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is housed in a large palapa set in the jungle, and offers tons of vegetarian options, as well as fresh fish, tacos, and desserts. Kin Toh serves up what the chef describes as Mayan avant-garde cuisine, which combines local, seasonal ingredients to create international dishes with a Mexican touch. This restaurant is known among locals and visitors alike for its gorgeous wooden platforms covered in pillows hanging high above the canopy. Mexican-Japanese fusion cuisine is offered at Tseen Ja, which was closed for long-term maintenance at the time of writing. Food gets good reviews across the board, but most guests find it overpriced.